Bracket and method for supporting hanging components on a movable wall having horizontal mounting channels

ABSTRACT

A bracket, system and method for supporting modular hanging components such as furniture, storage components and other objects on a movable wall having horizontal mounting channels is provided. The bracket has an upper latch portion and a lower portion with bracket openings that align with the mounting openings in a vertical wall strip to fasten the vertical wall strip to the bracket. The hanging components can be removably attached to the vertical wall strip by standard attachment hardware such as side and cantilever brackets. This arrangement permits modular hanging components using a vertical wall strip system to be supported by a horizontal mounting channel of a movable wall in a horizontal wall system without having to modify the movable wall, the modular hanging component and/or the attachment hardware and may reduce the number of horizontal mounting channels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to supporting hanging components onmovable walls. More specifically, this invention relates to a bracketand method for supporting hanging components on a movable wall havinghorizontal mounting channels in a movable wall system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today's modular/movable wall systems (also called demountable walls) areavailable in a range of heights and configurations and in every kind ofmaterial including traditional drywall, glass, wood, wood composites,steel, etc. Movable wall systems are an environmentally friendlyreplacement for dry wall or sheet rock, which are most commonly used tocreate offices and rooms within an office building. Movable wallsvirtually eliminate construction waste and future renovation waste.Movable walls provide flexibility from the moment the space is built andthroughout moves and changes. By industrial definition, a movable wallis a floor-to ceiling wall just like traditional stud and drywall wallsexcept that it is movable. The walls are built modularly in a factoryand installed on-site. Modular wall panels are connected to form themovable wall. Movable walls may be taken down and relocated.

Movable walls may support hanging components such as shelves, cabinetsand other furniture, artwork, desktops and other work surfaces,accessories, etc. Conventional vertical wall strips attach with wallfasteners to the movable walls to support the hanging components in a“vertical wall strip system.” A vertical wall strip is typically a3-sided metal strip having vertically spaced mounting openings toreceive the wall fasteners, usually spaced 6 to 8 inches apart and aplurality of parallel vertical slots that receive attachment hardware tosupport the hanging component. Two vertical wall strips are typicallyrequired to support a hanging component. Conventional vertical wallstrips measure 60″, 72″, or 84″ inches in height, with the longer wallstrips requiring more wall fasteners for attachment to the wall than theshorter wall strips.

Unfortunately, a vertical wall strip system limits the placement of suchhanging components at pre-existing vertical points along the movablewall where a vertical wall strip has been attached to the movable wall.The placement of the vertical wall strips is determined during initialdesign of the interior space limiting the furniture and componentshelf-life because their size becomes an issue. In order to address thisproblem, integrated horizontal mounting channels have now been designedinto movable walls allowing for storage and furniture component bearing.The horizontal mounting channels or “antlers” typically run the width ofthe modular wall panels that form the movable wall and can be placed atany height. A horizontal mounting channel may be positioned at the levelof the hanging component to be supported on the movable wall. Aplurality of vertically spaced horizontal mounting channels may bedisposed in the movable wall or modular panels. Horizontal mountingchannels may be formed during fabrication of the panel and/or added orremoved on the job site. Until this development, movable walls did nothave the horizontal support available to support hanging components.With this development, furniture and storage components have a longerlife-cycle because their size is no longer an issue duringreconfiguration. Horizontal mounting channels allow the end-user tosupport hanging components along the horizontal mounting channels i.e.the end-user can go “off-modular.” This means that the modular wallpanels can be standardized without worrying about the size of thefurniture to be attached to the movable wall. The furniture and storagecomponents as well as other hanging components can now hang anywherealong the movable walls, on the vertical and horizontal axes, and notjust in pre-existing vertical points determined during initial design ofthe interior space. A movable wall that incorporates such horizontalmounting channels is referred to herein as a “horizontal wall system.”

For example, U.S. Patent Published Application 2006/0059806 filed Aug.17, 2005 by Gosling et al. incorporated by reference herein describes areconfigurable movable wall system having at least one wall modulehaving vertical end frames disposed at its side edges, each of thevertical end frames having vertically extending flanges with oneextending toward a front surface of the module and the other extendingtoward a rear surface of the module, a plurality of horizontal stringers(i.e. horizontal mounting channels) affixed between the pair of verticalend frames, an aesthetic surface affixed to the stringers and aremovable connecting strip adapted to affix about one of the two flangesto join it to a corresponding flange on a second wall module, a wallbracket, a finishing trim or a connection post. The plurality ofhorizontal stringers is horizontally spaced at intervals along theheight of the module for strength and rigidity. To support hangingcomponents, cantilever channel stringers including a centralhorizontally extending cantilever channel portion are used. The channelportion has a generally L-shaped slot formed along its length. Stringersthat do not include the channel portion can be used anywhere structureis required but the channel portion is not required for supportinghanging components. A conventional movable wall system typically needsfive antlers or horizontal stringers for each furniture bearing wall. Arelated panel furniture system is also described whereby a work surfaceor desktop with a substantially L-shaped hook can be received and engagethe L-shaped slot of the channel portion to connect the furniture to themodule of the movable wall.

While a movable horizontal wall system such as described in Gosling etal. offers distinct advantages for movable wall systems, its use hasgenerally been limited to furniture or other hanging components with theL-shaped hook that can engage with the horizontal stringers. For thosehanging components conventionally supported on movable walls by avertical wall strip system, their support on horizontal wall systems hasdisadvantageously necessitated modifications to the movable wallsand/hanging components and/or attachment hardware. Such modificationshave been costly, and may compromise the structural integrity of themodified item. For example, modular furniture offered by suchmanufacturers as Herman Miller are typically incompatible withhorizontal wall systems without substantial modification of the wallsand/or hanging components and/or attachment hardware because suchfurniture uses a vertical wall strip system for mounting to a movablewall.

Accordingly, there has been a need for a bracket and method forsupporting a vertical wall strip mountable hanging component to amovable wall having at least one horizontal mounting channel. There hasalso been a need for such bracket and method that supports the hangingcomponent on a movable wall in a manner allowing for storage andfurniture component bearing in both the vertical and horizontal axes.There is a still further need for such a bracket and method that arerelatively inexpensive and use thereof does not necessitate substantialmodification of the movable wall, hanging component, or the attachmenthardware used to removably attach the hanging component to the verticalwall strip. There is a further need for a bracket and method that reducethe number of horizontal mounting channels per furniture bearing wallthus providing both a cost savings and an increase in visual continuityof the modular wall panels. The present invention fulfills these needsand provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a bracket for supporting at least onehanging component on a movable wall comprising an upper latch portionadapted to be received in and engage a horizontal mounting channel of atleast one wall module of the movable wall and a lower substantiallyplanar portion having a plurality of vertically aligned bracket openingstherethrough, at least two vertically aligned bracket openings adaptedto align with at least two mounting openings in at least one verticalwall strip to receive at least one fastener for fastening the at leastone vertical wall strip to the bracket to removably attach the at leastone hanging component thereto for supporting the at least one hangingcomponent on the movable wall.

The present invention further resides in a horizontal wall system forsupporting at least one hanging component comprising at least one wallmodule having at least one horizontal mounting channel; at least onebracket comprising an upper latch portion adapted to be received in andengage the at least one horizontal mounting channel of the least onewall module and a lower substantially planar portion having a pluralityof vertically aligned bracket openings therethrough; at least onevertical wall strip adapted to be fastened to the at least one bracket;and means for removably attaching the at least one hanging component tothe at least one vertical wall strip.

The present invention also resides in a method of supporting at leastone hanging component on a movable wall having at least one horizontalmounting channel comprising the steps of providing at least one brackethaving an upper latch portion and a lower substantially planar portionhaving a plurality of vertically aligned bracket openings therethrough;engaging the upper latch portion of the at least one bracket in the atleast one horizontal mounting channel; fastening at least one verticalwall strip to each of the at least one bracket; and removably attachingthe at least one hanging component to the at least one vertical wallstrip.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1A is a front elevational view of a bracket embodying the inventionused in supporting modular hanging components to horizontal wallsystems, illustrating an upper latch portion and a plurality of threadedopenings in a lower substantially planar portion;

FIG. 1B is a rear view of the bracket of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a side elevational view of the bracket of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 1D is an opposing side elevational view of the bracket of FIGS.1A-1C;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective assembly view of a prior art exemplarymodular wall panel cladded with wall tile, illustrating the orientationof a plurality of horizontal mounting channels with integratedcantilever channel;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the horizontalmounting channels of FIG. 2, illustrating prior art cantilever bracketdetails and tile clip connection details thereof;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3A, illustrating the bracketof FIGS. 1A and 1B engaged with the prior art horizontal mountingchannel of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a perspective assembly view of a portion of a movable wallwith a horizontal mounting channel, illustrating the manner in which arearwardly and upwardly extending L-shaped flange of the upper latchportion of the bracket is adapted to slide behind and engage a top edgeof the horizontal mounting channel of the movable wall;

FIG. 5 is further perspective assembly view similar to FIG. 4, furtherillustrating the manner in which the engaged bracket swings down intoposition over one of the wall tiles;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the exemplary modular wall panelof FIG. 2, illustrating vertically aligned brackets engaged in each ofthree spaced horizontal mounting channels;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of the upper portion of theexemplary modular wall panel of FIG. 6, illustrating the top one of thevertically aligned brackets engaged in the top horizontal mountingchannel and a vertical wall strip fastened to the bracket;

FIG. 8 is another front elevational view of the exemplary modular wallpanel of FIG. 6, illustrating the vertical wall strip fastened to eachof the vertically aligned brackets engaged in the three spacedhorizontal mounting channels;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the a portion of the exemplarymodular wall panel of FIGS. 7 and 8, illustrating an exemplary modulartabletop supported at one end to the modular wall panel by aconventional cantilever bracket engaged in a vertical slot of thevertical wall strip of FIGS. 7 and 8, the opposing supported end notshown;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the exemplary modular tabletop of FIG. 9supported on the modular wall panel by the vertical wall strip with aportion of the bracket of FIGS. 1A and 1B interposed between the modularwall panel and the vertical wall strip, a pair of wall fasteners adaptedto fasten the vertical wall strip to the bracket;

FIG. 11 is a perspective environmental view of an exemplary modular wallpanel, illustrating the bracket of FIGS. 1A and 1B engaged in ahorizontal mounting channel, a vertical wall strip fastened thereto anda pair of shelves supported on one end to the modular wall panel by apair of side supports engaged in vertical slots of the vertical wallstrip;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an exemplary modular office layout,illustrating a pair of modular wall panels with spaced horizontalmounting channels with a plurality of brackets horizontally andvertically aligned to fasten vertical wall strips thereto, particularlyshowing the exemplary removable attachment of modular hanging componentsincluding a pair of modular tabletops, tackboards, and flipper doorsthereto by attachment hardware (not shown), the portion of the bracketshidden behind the modular hanging components shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an exemplary tabletop supported at each end toa movable wall formed by a pair of modular wall panels by a verticalwall strip fastened to a bracket as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B; and

FIG. 14 is a plan view of another exemplary modular office layout,illustrating hanging components supported by the same bracket andbrackets spanning two modular wall panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the presentinvention is concerned with a mounting bracket, the bracket generallydesignated in the accompanying drawings by the reference number 10. Thebracket 10 comprises, generally, an upper latch portion 12 adapted to bereceived in and engage a horizontal mounting channel 14 of at least onewall module 16 of a movable wall 30 and a lower substantially planarportion 18 having a plurality of vertically aligned bracket openings 20therethrough, at least two vertically aligned bracket openings adaptedto align with mounting openings 22 in at least one vertical wall strip24 to receive at least one fastener 26 for fastening the at least onevertical wall strip to the bracket to removably attach the at least onehanging component 28 a-28 g thereto for supporting the at least onehanging component on the movable wall.

In accordance with the present invention, and as illustrated withrespect to a preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 14, the bracket 10permits vertical wall strip mountable hanging components to be supportedon movable walls 30 having at least one horizontal mounting channel 14.As known in the prior art, the movable walls may be comprised of theleast one wall module or panel 16 such as shown in FIG. 2 herein. Eachmodule 16 generally comprises a pair of vertical end frames 32 that willbe spaced apart by the desired width of each module. The modules 16 maybe clad with wall tile 34 using a tile clip assembly (FIGS. 3A and 3B)36 and can be one or two sided with a finished wall surface on bothsides or on one side only. Tiles 34 can be made of wood, plastic, metalfabric glass or other material, and the end frames 32 may beinterconnected by a plurality of horizontal mounting channels 14. Acomponent bearing wall 30 or modular wall panel 16 may have fourhorizontal mounting channels as shown in FIG. 2 although more or lesshorizontal mounting channels may be used. The placement of thevertically spaced horizontal mounting channels 14 depends on thefurniture configuration. While a particular configuration of a movablewall/modular wall panel has been described and shown, it is to beappreciated that the bracket 10 may be used with movable walls 30 andmodular wall panels 16 having other configurations.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the bracket 10 may be composed of a generallyrectangular piece of metal plate material, such as steel plate with apreferred thickness of greater than ⅛″, and a height of about 10″ and awidth of about 6″ to provide suitable load bearing. The upper latchportion 12 of the bracket comprises a substantially L-shaped flange 38with rearwardly and upwardly extending portions 40 and 42. The lowersubstantially planar portion 18 may be substantially rectangular. Thebracket 10 has a front surface (1A) 44, a rear surface (FIG. 1B) 46,side edges (FIGS. 1C and 1D) 48 and 50, a top edge (1A and 1B) 52, and abottom edge (not shown). While a bracket having these size, shape andweight characteristics is described, it is to be appreciated that thecharacteristics of the bracket may be varied.

The plurality of bracket openings 20 may be punched, drilled orotherwise formed in the bracket 10 through the lower substantiallyplanar portion 18. In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1A and1B, a pair of bracket openings 20 may be disposed near each longitudinalside edge of the bracket 10. The vertical spacing of the bracketopenings 20 corresponds with the vertical spacing or pitch between themounting openings 22 in the vertical wall strip 24 as hereinafterdescribed. The horizontal spacing and number of bracket openings 20 mayvary depending on component configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, pre-threaded PEM® nuts 54 may be pressure orsnap fitted into the bracket openings 20 and the bracket openings withPEM® nuts are collectively referred to herein as “pre-threaded PEM® nutopenings.” The pre-threaded PEM® nut openings may appear in a rear viewwith a hexagon shape as shown in FIG. 1B.

In the method of the invention, the upper latch portion 12 of thebracket may be received in and engage the horizontal mounting channel 14as shown in FIG. 4. The substantially L-shaped flange 38 may be insertedinto the horizontal mounting channel 14 with the upwardly extendingportion 42 of the substantially L-shaped flange 38 behind the top frontedge 56 of the horizontal mounting channel (FIG. 3B) 14. The bracket 10is then swung downwardly toward the wall tile 34 (FIG. 5) until therearwardly extending portion 40 of the substantially L-shaped flange 38is seated over the lower bottom edge 60 of the horizontal mountingchannel (See FIG. 3B). At this point, the bracket 10 is now engaged withthe horizontal mounting channel 14 and may be slid horizontally anywherealong the length of the channel to any position. The engaged bracket 10hangs from the horizontal mounting channel substantially flat againstthe wall tiles 34 of one or more modular wall panels/movable wallwhereby the lower substantially planar portion 18 of the bracket may bedisposed substantially perpendicular to the floor (not shown).

Two horizontally aligned brackets 10 are typically used to support onehanging component 28 a-28 g such as furniture, etc. as hereinafterdescribed and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Such a hanging component maybe supported at each end thereof. A plurality of brackets 10 may be usedanywhere along a horizontal mounting channel 14 to support one or moreadjacent hanging components. A bracket 10 may span two modular wallpanels 16 permitting the bracket 10 to act as a tying member between twohanging components 28 a-28 g on separate modular wall panels, as shownin FIG. 14 and hereinafter described. Brackets 10 may also be verticallyaligned in vertically spaced horizontal mounting channels (See FIG. 6)to support one or more hanging components at different heights as shownin FIGS. 12-14. For hanging components such as accessories or the like,a single bracket may be used.

The vertical wall strip 24 that is fastened to the bracket 10 may be aconventional 3-sided metal strip having the vertically spaced mountingopenings 22 to receive the fasteners 26, usually spaced 6 to 8 inchesapart and a plurality of single or parallel vertical slots 62 thatreceive attachment hardware such as side brackets 64 a and cantileverbrackets 64 b to support the hanging component as hereinafter described.The mounting openings 22 in the vertical wall strip 24 and thevertically aligned bracket openings in the bracket are aligned toreceive the threaded fasteners 26 such as machine screws or the like asshown in FIG. 7. The same vertical wall strip may be fastened to eachvertically aligned bracket in the same manner such that the mountingopenings 22 in the vertical wall strip 24 and the bracket openings 20 onone side of the vertically aligned brackets may be aligned to receivethe threaded fasteners 26 as shown in FIG. 8. Where a bracket spans twomodular wall panels 16 permitting the bracket to act as a tying memberbetween two hanging components on separate modular wall panels, a pairof vertical wall strips 24 may be fastened to the same bracket using thebracket openings near both longitudinal side edges of the bracket asshown in FIG. 14. For a typical 60″ wall strip, three vertically alignedbrackets 10 may be engaged in three vertically spaced horizontalmounting channels. For wall strips of greater or lesser length, fewer ormore brackets may be needed to provide the necessary support. Fourvertically aligned brackets may be installed along one 72″ or 84″ wallstrip. Each bracket 10 is interposed between a portion of the verticalwall strip and the movable wall or modular wall panel. While aconventional wall strip having a particular configuration has beendescribed, it is to be appreciated that other wall strip configurationsmay be used, for example, in a vertical wall strip closet system.

The thickness of the bracket 10 and thus the depth of the bracketopening permits enough screw turns to anchor the fasteners 26 throughthe mounting openings 22 in the vertical wall strip and through thebracket openings 20 in the bracket but preferably stops short of themovable wall 30 so as to substantially prevent damage thereto. In apreferred embodiment, the PEM® nut openings have a 10-32 thread size andthe length of the preferred machine screws may be ⅜″. While the use ofPEM® nut openings and machine screws are described, it is to beappreciated that other types of threaded openings and fasteners may beused within the confines of the invention.

The hanging component 28 a-28 g may be removably attached to thevertical wall strip 24 in the conventional manner with standardattachment hardware including L-shaped shelf supports, side brackets 64a, cantilever brackets 64 b or the like. As shown for example in FIG. 9,the attachment hardware may be received in one or more of the verticalslots 62 of the vertical wall strip at a selected level to position thehanging component 28 a-28 g at the desired height. A pair of parallelvertical slots 62 may receive attachment hardware for adjacent hangingcomponents supported at the same level on the modular wallpanel(s)/movable wall. It is to be appreciated that the attachmenthardware for the hanging component may be received in any of thevertical slots of the respective vertical wall strip. No substantialmodification of the movable wall, hanging component or attachmenthardware is required. Attachment hardware 64 a and 64 b arerepresentative only.

The hanging component 28 a-28 g may be a shelf, cabinet and otherfurniture, artwork, a desktop, tabletop and other work surface,accessory, etc. The hanging component itself may be any object to beremovably attached to the movable wall. Hanging components 28 a-28 g arerepresentative only. FIG. 9 shows one end of an exemplary modulartabletop 28 a removably attached to the vertical wall strip 24 by aconventional cantilever bracket 64 b engaged in one of the verticalslots. FIG. 10 is a side view of the same modular tabletop 28 a. FIG. 11shows a pair of side brackets 64 a engaged in vertical slots of the samevertical wall strip to support a pair of shelves 28 b. FIG. 12 shows anexemplary modular office layout showing a plurality of bracketssupporting different hanging components on a movable wall comprised oftwo wall modules and having three vertically spaced horizontal mountingchannels, identified in FIG. 12 as 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c and threevertical wall strips, identified as 24 a, 24 b, and 24 c. A total ofnine brackets are shown, identified as 10 A-10 i, with three bracketsengaged in each of the horizontal mounting channels 14 a, 14 b, and 14c. Vertical wall strip 24 a is shown fastened to brackets 10 a, 10 b,and 10 c, vertical wall strip 24 b is shown fastened to brackets 10 d,10 e, and 10 f and vertical wall strip 24 c is shown fastened tobrackets 10 g, 10 h, and 10 i. Two of the four PEM® nut openings in eachbracket are shown as receiving fasteners. Brackets 10 a and 10 d supporta first flipper door 28 c for a storage cabinet. Brackets 10 d and 10 gsupport a second flipper door 28 d. Brackets 10 b and 10 e (shown indotted lines) support a first tack board 28 e and brackets 10 e and 10 h(shown in dotted lines) support a second tack board 28 f. Thus, the samebracket 10 d supports one end of both the first and second flipper doorsand the same bracket 10 e supports one end of both the first and secondtack boards. Each of brackets 10 b, 10 e, and 10 h are shown in dottedlines as they are hidden behind the first and second tack boards. Whentwo hanging components are each adjacently supported at one end by thesame bracket and vertical strip, as in the case of the first and secondflipper doors and tack boards shown in FIG. 12, attachment hardware forone of the hanging components is received in one of the vertical slotsin the shared vertical strip with the parallel vertical slot receivingattachment hardware of the adjacent hanging component when the adjacenthanging components are hung at the same level. It is to be understoodthat a hanging component may be supported anywhere along the length ofthe vertical wall strip, but positioning over a bracket is preferred inorder to maintain substantial visual continuity. Brackets 10 c, 10 f and10 i support a desktop 28 g. FIG. 13 shows a tabletop 28 a spanning twomodular wall panels 16 of the moveable wall 30. A pair of brackets isengaged in the horizontal mounting channel that spans the two wallmodules. A vertical wall strip is fastened to each of the brackets.Opposing side brackets for the tabletop are received in one or more ofthe vertical slots of the respective vertical wall strip. FIG. 14 showsa similar office layout to FIG. 12. The same element numbers have beenused with the addition of a fourth vertical wall strip, identified inFIG. 14 as 24 d. FIG. 14 shows the pair of modular wall panels 16forming the movable wall 30 with the three horizontal mounting channels14 a, 14 b and 14 c and the three brackets engaged in each of the threehorizontal mounting channels with the middle brackets 10 d, 10 e, and 10f spanning the pair of modular wall panels and having a pair of verticalwall strips fastened thereto with the same brackets supporting one endof adjacent hanging components. The brackets 10 permit a reduced numberof horizontal mounting channels than in a conventional movable wall.

For reconfiguring the wall or the hanging components, the hangingcomponents and attachment hardware may be removed from vertical wallstrip in the conventional manner. The fastener(s) may be removed fromthe aligned bracket and mounting openings to unfasten the vertical wallstrip from the respective bracket(s). To remove the bracket from thehorizontal mounting channel, the bracket may be tilted upwardly androtated so that the substantially L-shaped flange may be withdrawn fromthe horizontal mounting channel.

From the foregoing, it is to be appreciated that the bracket and methodpermit support of hanging components on movable walls having horizontalmounting channels without having to dispense with the conventionalvertical strip system for supporting modular furniture on movable wallsthereby substantially eliminating the need for modification of themovable wall, hanging component, or attachment hardware.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by theappended claims.

1. A bracket for supporting at least one hanging component on a movablewall comprising: an upper latch portion adapted to be received in andengage a horizontal mounting channel of at least one wall module of themovable wall and a lower substantially planar portion having a pluralityof vertically aligned bracket openings therethrough, wherein the upperlatch portion has a width equal to a width of the lower substantiallyplanar portion, at least two vertically aligned bracket openings adaptedto align with at least two mounting openings in at least one verticalwall strip to receive at least one fastener for fastening the at leastone vertical wall strip to the bracket to removably attach the at leastone hanging component thereto for supporting the at least one hangingcomponent on the movable wall.
 2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein saidupper latch portion comprises a substantially P-shaped flange forreceipt and engagement of the horizontal mounting channel.
 3. Thebracket of claim 2 wherein said substantially L-shaped flange comprisesrearwardly and upwardly extending portions.
 4. The bracket of claim 1wherein said plurality of vertically aligned bracket openings comprisespre-threaded openings.
 5. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the lowersubstantially planar portion is substantially rectangular.
 6. Thebracket of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vertically aligned bracketopenings are disposed near one or both longitudinal edges of thebracket.
 7. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the at least two verticallyaligned bracket openings that are adapted to align with the at least twomounting openings in the at least one vertical wall strip are verticallyspaced according to the vertical spacing between the plurality ofmounting openings of the at least one vertical wall strip.
 8. Ahorizontal wall system for supporting at least one hanging componentcomprising: at least one wall module having at least one horizontalmounting channel; at least one bracket comprising an upper latch portionadapted to be received in and engage the at least one horizontalmounting channel of the least one wall module and a lower substantiallyplanar portion having a plurality of vertically aligned bracket openingstherethrough, wherein the upper latch portion has a width equal to awidth of the lower substantially planar portion; at least one verticalwall strip adapted to be fastened to the at least one bracket; and meansfor removably attaching the at least one hanging component to the atleast one vertical wall strip.
 9. The horizontal wall system of claim 8wherein the vertical wall strip has a plurality of mounting openings anda plurality of vertical slots, at least two vertically aligned bracketopenings adapted to align with at least two mounting openings to receiveat least one fastener.
 10. The horizontal wall system of claim 8 whereinthe means for removably attaching the at least one hanging component tothe vertical strip comprises attachment hardware received in at leastone of the plurality of vertical slots.
 11. The horizontal wall systemof claim 8 wherein a plurality of brackets is arranged in substantialvertical alignment in two or more of the at least one horizontalmounting channel.
 12. The horizontal wall system of claim 8 wherein aplurality of brackets is horizontally spaced along at least onehorizontal mounting channel.
 13. The horizontal wall system of claim 12wherein a pair of vertical wall strips is fastened to the same bracketfor supporting adjacent hanging components.
 14. The horizontal wallsystem of claim 8 wherein one bracket spans two wall modules.
 15. Thehorizontal wall system of claim 8 wherein the at least one hangingcomponent is removably attached at any level along the height of the atleast one vertical wall strip and at any position along the at least onemounting channel.
 16. A method of supporting at least one hangingcomponent on a movable wall having at least one horizontal mountingchannel comprising the steps of: providing at least one bracket havingan upper latch portion and a lower substantially planar portion having aplurality of vertically aligned bracket openings therethrough, whereinthe upper latch portion has a width equal to a width of the lowersubstantially planar portion; engaging the upper latch portion of the atleast one bracket in the at least one horizontal mounting channel,fastening at least one vertical wall strip to each of the at least onebracket; and removably attaching the at least one hanging component tothe at least one vertical wall strip.
 17. The method of claim 16 whereinthe upper latch portion comprises a substantially L-shaped flange havingupwardly and rearwardly extending portions, the upwardly extendingportion engaging behind a top front edge of the horizontal mountingchannel before rotating the bracket downwardly toward the movable wall.18. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one vertical wall striphas a plurality of mounting openings and fastening the at least onevertical wall strip to each of the at least one bracket comprisesaligning at least one bracket opening with at least one mounting openingin the at least one vertical wall strip to define at least one alignedopening and inserting a fastener through the at least one alignedopening.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one verticalwall strip further has a plurality of vertical slots and removablyattaching the at least one hanging component to the at least onevertical wall strip comprises receiving attachment hardware for the atleast one hanging component in at least one vertical slot of the atleast one vertical wall strip.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the atleast one hanging component is removably attached at any level along theheight of the at least one vertical wall strip and at any position alongthe at least one horizontal mounting channel.